Gỏi cuốn is a Vietnamese rice-paper roll filled with herbs, noodles, shrimp, and vegetables.
The translucent wrappers are made from rice flour and softened briefly in water. Fillings are arranged inside with ingredients such as rice vermicelli, lettuce, mint, basil, cucumber, and cooked shrimp or pork. The softened sheet is then folded around the filling and served fresh rather than fried.
Gỏi cuốn is commonly accompanied by dipping sauces. Hoisin-peanut sauce and fish-sauce-based dips are especially familiar, though recipes vary by household and region. The rolls are light but can be substantial because of the noodles and protein.
They are often called Vietnamese spring rolls in English, but this can cause confusion with chả giò, which are fried Vietnamese rolls. Gỏi cuốn is defined by its fresh, translucent wrapper and uncooked assembly, while chả giò has a crisp fried exterior.